News Items

La Pêche, July 13,
2018
. The
Municipality is thrilled to announce that its purchase offer on the La Pêche
Sports Complex has been accepted. The Council passed the bylaw authorizing it
to borrow $1,987,957 at its July 9 meeting. The register will be open on
Wednesday, July 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the municipal office (1 route
Principale Ouest) for any eligible voters to sign if they want to hold a
referendum on the acquisition. Public notice of the register has been posted on
the municipal website, and register results will be announced at the start of
the next Municipal Council meeting on August 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The Sports Complex was in danger of having to
close after the Municipality was forced to cut off funding to the Coop. The
Council however recognized the Sports Complex as a La Pêche legacy integral to
the community’s dynamism and quality of life. For the Municipality, losing it
was not an option. The Sports Complex had to be saved and revitalized.

Background

The idea of a new
recreational facility in La Pêche was first floated in the early 2000s, and a survey
was conducted to find out what people would prefer. The complex was actually
second choice, behind a swimming pool, which had to be dropped due to cost
considerations. The La Pêche Sports Complex opened in July 2006 and was
immediately embraced by the local community. It brought new energy to daily
life and provided recreational and athletic opportunities for all, particularly
the children of La Pêche and Collines-de-l’Outaouais. It became a hub for
people’s social lives.

The 2004 agreement between the Municipality and
Coopérative de solidarité en loisirs de La Pêche
(the Recreational Solidarity Coop) provided for an
annual grant from the Municipality to the Coop to pay off construction debt, redeem
shares, and cover operating costs. But the advent of
Bill
122
changed all that. The main purpose of the bill was to recognize
municipalities as the local government and provide them with the greater
autonomy and expanded powers they needed in fulfilling that role. But it also
prohibited local municipalities from granting assistance to any solidarity
cooperative that offered rebates or paid interest to holders of preferred
shares of any kind, unless the money went to a municipality,
Union
des municipalités du Québec,
or Fédération québécoise des municipalités locales et régionales (FQM). The Municipality could no
longer fund the Coop.

Next steps in the acquisition process

What
happens with the proposed acquisition depends on the register results.

If there are 818 or more confirmed
signatories, the public will be considered in favour of a referendum. Either a
referendum is held and the side with the most votes prevails, or the Council
withdraws the proposal, possibly amending it and submitting it again for public
approval.

Fewer than 818 signatories: The
voters are presumed to have agreed with the loan bylaw, which is then sent to
Ministère des Affaires
municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire
for approval before
the purchase goes forward.

The 2000sLa Pêche Development
Corporation floats the idea of a recreational facility. A survey is conducted
to examine public needs. The story of the La Pêche Sports Complex is up and
running.

2003La Pêche Recreational
Solidarity Cooperative is founded to manage the project and receives

Provincial and federal government
funding

Financial
contributions from individuals in the form of shares (used to purchase
equipment without the Municipality needing to borrow)

Proceeds from a new tax (recreation
tax)

2004 The Municipality and
the Coop sign an agreement under which the Coop receives an annual $250,000
grant, funded by the recreation tax.

2006The La Pêche Sports
Complex officially opens.

January 2018Bill 122 takes effect,
prohibiting municipalities from funding solidarity coops that pay rebates or interest
on preferred shares of any kind, unless the payments go to a municipality, UMQ
(Québec’s union of municipalities), or FQM (Québec’s federation of local and
regional municipalities).

Municipal funding for the Sports
Complex is cut off.

The Coop struggles to continue
without its funding.

March 2018Resolution 18-123 is
passed, ordering a study of the situation.